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If you’re a Marriott Bonvoy loyalist, perhaps you’ve become savvy at earning lots of Marriott Bonvoy points, but even seasoned members might welcome an earnings refresher!
One thing’s for certain: when it comes to hotel loyalty points, more is better. With that philosophy in mind, we’re going to take a look at dozens of ways we all can earn more Marriott Bonvoy points.
Marriott Bonvoy points are valuable since they can be redeemed for free hotel/resort stays, room upgrades, discounts on room rates, vacation packages, car rentals, gift cards, donations to charity, transfers to airline partners, and more!
In this article, we’ll look at a multitude of ways you can earn all the Marriott Bonvoy points you desire. Let’s get started.
Before you can start earning points you’ll need to join Marriott Bonvoy. Make note of your new membership number so that you’ll receive credit for your stays and any other points-earning opportunities.
Chase and American Express both issue Marriott Bonvoy-earning personal and business credit cards. You’ll start earning Marriott Bonvoy points immediately on every purchase, and qualify for a welcome bonus once minimum spending requirements are met, normally within the first 3 months after card approval.
Welcome bonuses are the fastest way to earn Marriott Bonvoy points, but there are plenty of ongoing earning options that make it smart to have at least 1 Marriott Bonvoy-branded card in your wallet if you’re a Marriott loyalist.
You’ll continue to earn, during and beyond the welcome bonus, for every purchase made on a Marriott Bonvoy-branded card and elevated earnings on bonus categories that vary by card.
Here are some snapshots of current welcome bonuses and earning categories for several of the most popular Marriott Bonvoy-branded cards.
A great option for Marriott hotel fans who want a no annual fee card and automatic Marriott Bonvoy elite status.
Casual travelers who like to frequent properties that are part of the Marriott Bonvoy collection of brands may want to consider the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card.
The Marriott Bold card rewards cardholders for Marriott stays and gives them a boost towards Marriott Bonvoy elite status.
Marriott loyalists will love this card's annual free night award, automatic elite status, and up to 17x points per $1 on Marriott hotel stays.
If you’re a frequent traveler and a Marriott loyalist, there’s a lot to love about the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card. The card comes packed with several great benefits like a free hotel night once a year, automatic Silver Elite status (with a fast-track to Gold Elite status), and multiple options for redeeming points.
Terms Apply / Rates & FeesThe Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card gives you automatic Marriott elite status and helps you earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on your everyday purchases.
The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card, the latest mid-tier offering in the Marriott Bonvoy lineup of cards, offers cardholders automatic elite status and ways to earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on each of their stays and daily purchases.
Terms Apply / Rates & FeesA premium card for Marriott fans who want perks like an annual statement credit and Free Night Award, plus a fast track to Marriott elite status.
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is a premium card designed with road warriors and Marriott Bonvoy loyalists in mind.
So is the card a worthwhile addition to your wallet?
Bottom Line: Spending on Marriott Bonvoy credit cards and earning the associated introductory welcome bonuses are the fastest ways to earn Marriott Bonvoy points.
One way to earn Marriott Bonvoy points is by transferring your Chase Ultimate Rewards points since the program is a Chase hotel partner. The transfer is simple, has a 1:1 transfer ratio, and can take up to 2 days.
The transfer is not an awesome value for your Ultimate Rewards points — but you might find value in transferring points to use for an upgraded room, or if you find a PointSavers rate. You might also find value when booking 5 consecutive award nights by getting the fifth night free.
The following Chase credit cards allow you to transfer Ultimate Rewards Points directly:
A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.
Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.
A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.
If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is one of the best options out there.
The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options. Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.
Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!
While the Chase Freedom Flex℠, Chase Freedom Unlimited®, and Ink Business Cash® Credit Card earn Ultimate Rewards, these cards do not allow direct transfers to Marriott Bonvoy. You can, however, transfer your Ultimate Rewards points earned on these cards first to one of the premium Chase cards listed above and then to Marriott Bonvoy.
You can refer friends for Chase credit cards and earn up to 100,000 points per year. To see if your card is eligible, visit the Refer-a-Friend website and enter your last name, ZIP code, and the last 4 digits of your credit card number.
Marriott Bonvoy-branded Chase card referrals will earn Marriott Bonvoy points and Ultimate Rewards-earning Chase cards will earn Ultimate Rewards that can then be transferred to Marriott Bonvoy.
Use any of our recommended Amex credit cards to use Marriott Bonvoy as an Amex transfer partner. As with Chase transfers, this is not a high-value transfer option compared to other Amex partners, however, there are promotions where you can receive up to 50% more in value when making a transfer.
Each Membership Rewards point converts to 1 Marriott Bonvoy point, and transfers are almost instant.
Here are some examples of the best personal Amex cards for earning Membership Rewards points:
Terms Apply / Rates & FeesThe Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.
When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card® from American Express.
Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.
Hot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer of up to 125k (or 150k) points with the Amex Platinum. The current public offer is 80,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)
Terms Apply / Rates & FeesThis is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!
The American Express® Gold Card is a game-changer.
With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1x.
There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.
Bottom Line: Membership Rewards points are valuable because the points can be transferred to several travel partners to receive the highest redemption rate possible. To learn more about the best ways to redeem Membership Rewards points, we have some great ideas for you.
If you currently have a Marriott Bonvoy-branded credit card issued by American Express, you can also refer a friend to apply for a card and earn Marriott Bonvoy points once they’re approved. If you have an Amex Membership Rewards-earning card you will earn Membership Rewards for your referral that can then be transferred to Marriott Bonvoy.
Just log in to your online American Express credit card account and select the method you want to use to invite your referral.
You can have American Express send an email, post on your Facebook page, use Twitter, or copy your referral link and send an email of your own.
Did you know you can earn points without using a Marriott Bonvoy-branded credit card to earn Marriott Bonvoy points when staying at any Marriott-family property?
Marriott Bonvoy members earn 10 Marriott Bonvoy points for every $1 spent on qualifying purchases made at any of the core 25 Marriott properties listed above, regardless of which credit card you use (5 points per $1 at Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites, Element properties, and Homes & Villas by Marriott). You can also stay at extended-stay properties, such as Marriott Executive Apartments, to earn 2.5 Marriott Bonvoy points per $1 spent.
In addition to the base points earned when staying at Marriott collection properties, elite members receive bonus points.
For example, a Platinum Elite member would receive a 50% bonus for a total 15 Marriott Bonvoy points per $1 spent at any of the 25 core Marriott collection properties!
| Elite Level | Bonus Marriott Bonvoy Points Earned |
| Silver Elite | 10% |
| Gold Elite | 25% |
| Platinum Elite | 50% |
| Titanium Elite Titanium Elite with Ambassador | 75% |
Hot Tip: You can triple dip on Marriott Bonvoy points when staying at Marriott-affiliated properties. You’ll receive points for using your branded credit card, base points in the Marriott Bonvoy program for your stay, and an additional percentage bonus if you have elite status.
When you tell your friends about the Marriott Bonvoy program and they stay at a Marriott property, you’ll earn Marriott Bonvoy points. Be sure to have your friend sign up for the Marriott Bonvoy program before staying.
Here’s how the Reward a Friend program works:
Purchase Marriott Bonvoy gift cards with your Marriott Bonvoy credit card at participating Marriott properties and receive 6 points per dollar spent. Marriott Bonvoy gift cards make great gifts for weddings, milestone birthdays, anniversaries, or graduates who will be traveling.
Hot Tip: Check your Amex Offers frequently for additional earnings or savings at Marriott properties, which may include gift card purchases.
When you check in to a Marriott collection property, you’ll be offered the option to receive welcome bonus points.
Gold Elite members or higher can select 500 to 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy points (depending on the property) in lieu of breakfast or a welcome amenity.
Marriott Bonvoy Tours & Activities is a special program offering hundreds of special activities and experiences chosen specifically for Marriott Bonvoy members. Select from gourmet cooking lessons, a riverboat jazz brunch in New Orleans, or perhaps a New York City speakeasy walking tour.
Marriott Bonvoy Tours & Activities offers experiences at destinations all over the world — best of all, you’ll be earning at least 5x bonus Marriott Bonvoy points for each $1 spent on Marriott Bonvoy Tours & Activities!
With the Marriott Bonvoy Events program, you’ll earn Marriott Bonvoy points for booking your meeting, wedding, or other special events at a Marriott property.
You can earn 2 points per dollar spent on eligible room, food, beverages, and audio/visual charges for a total of up to 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points for each event. Titanium Elite members can earn a maximum of 105,000 points per event.
You can also earn Elite qualifying nights for your event booking.
When Marriott Bonvoy runs a promotion, you can earn extra Marriott Bonvoy points for your stays. If you’re a member of Marriott Bonvoy, you should receive an email asking you to register whenever there is a new promotion.
You can always check out Marriott Bonvoy’s Promotion Central to sign in and see if there is a new promotion you may have missed.
Vacations by Marriott runs ongoing specials that offer bonus Marriott Bonvoy points for booking vacation packages in addition to the points earned on the purchase price.
As an example, one recent promotion offered 10,000 Marriott Bonvoy points for booking a 4-night stay or longer at a Westin property. You can check out the Vacations by Marriott site to see the current bonus point specials.
Marriott Bonvoy partners with Hertz to offer Marriott Bonvoy members discounted rental rates and unlimited miles.
Members enjoy the benefits of reserving now, paying later, and even canceling their reservation for free. Use code 154080 during booking for discounts and benefits.
Best of all, Marriott Bonvoy members can earn up to 2,000 Marriott Bonvoy points for Hertz car rentals of 2 days or more.
With over 500 trained cruise experts on staff and a 110% money-back price guarantee, Marriott Bonvoy has a dedicated Marriott Cruises website.
Receive special pricing, bonus amenities, and up to 3 Marriott Bonvoy points for every $1 you spend at Marriott Cruises. Earn even more (up to 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points!) when you book a balcony or suite stateroom.
Hot Tip: If you’ve got plenty of Marriott Bonvoy points, you may consider booking your cruise with points instead of cash (however, you won’t earn points when you do this).
If you’re a member of the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas Identity rewards program, you can transfer loyalty points to Marriott Bonvoy. You must contact the Cosmopolitan Identity Program to do so.
The following conversion rates apply:
| Identity → Marriott Bonvoy |
|---|
| 25,000 → 20,000 |
| 10,000 → 8,000 |
| 2,500 → 2,000 |
| 500 → 400 |
Many vacationers enjoy the convenience of owning a Marriott Vacation Club timeshare, with access to over 70 Marriott Vacation Club resorts, as well as access to over 4,000 Marriott properties and 3,000 affiliated resorts via the Marriott Vacation Club Destinations Exchange Program,
And for those who don’t mind signing up to visit one of their properties and listening to their presentation, one could earn a stash of Marriott Bonvoy points.
If you’re just short of enough points for a particular redemption option, you may want to purchase a small number of Marriott Bonvoy points to top off your account.
Another reason you might purchase points is to keep your points from expiring since Marriott Bonvoy points expire after 24 months of inactivity on your account.
Members may normally purchase a maximum of 50,000 points per calendar year in increments of 1,000 at a rate of $12.50 per 1,000 points, but watch for promotions where points are discounted and limits are increased.
As a bonus to whatever earnings you’d get through your credit card, you can also double-dip and earn Marriott Bonvoy points when you link your Marriott Bonvoy account to your Uber account.
Members will earn:
Join Eat Around Town and link your Marriott Bonvoy-branded card to earn up to 6 points per dollar spent at participating restaurants.
The Marriott Bonvoy program allows you to select whether you want to earn miles or rewards points for your purchases. To make your selection, log in to your Marriott Bonvoy account and update your online profile.
If you do not make a selection, the program will default to earning Marriott Bonvoy points.
Once you’ve earned plenty of Marriott Bonvoy points, you’ll probably want to know the best way to redeem your points. Check out our guide on the best ways to redeem Marriott Bonvoy points for the most value.
With so many ways to earn Marriott Bonvoy points, you should be able to accumulate enough to easily cover an annual vacation or several weekend getaways each year just from everyday spending.
The best value for your Marriott Bonvoy points will normally be for free hotel nights, plus you’ll receive even more value when you utilize the fifth consecutive award night free benefit.
If you’re a traveler whose hotel program choice is Marriott Bonvoy, partnering a branded card with your Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program membership can be very rewarding, regardless of which Marriott Bonvoy-branded card you select.
The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Chase Freedom Flex℠ was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® card, click here.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here.
Yes, you can have more than 1 Marriott Bonvoy-branded credit card. Marriott Bonvoy credit cards are issued by Chase and American Express in both personal and business versions.
Marriott Bonvoy points are points earned by members of the Marriott Bonvoy Rewards loyalty program.
It’s free to join the Marriott Bonvoy program, so that should be your first step. Then all your stays at Marriott Bonvoy-affiliated properties will earn Marriott Bonvoy points based on the amount of your purchases.
There are many other ways to earn Marriott Bonvoy points as we’ve covered in the article. Once you have accumulated Marriott Bonvoy points, you can redeem them for a variety of options, including free nights, vacations, gift cards, and much more.
Check for new Marriott Bonvoy promotions online.
The number of Marriott Bonvoy points you will need for a 1-night stay will depend on the hotel and current redemption rates.
There are also sales where rooms are discounted to as low as 4,000 points per night. These sales are called PointSavers and can offer good value for your Marriott Bonvoy points.
Call Marriott Bonvoy customer service at 800-627-7468.
The following hotel chains are part of the Marriott brand: AC Hotels by Marriott, Aloft Hotels, Autograph Collection, Bvlgari Hotels & Resorts*, City Express by Marriott, Courtyard by Marriott, Delta Hotels, Design Hotels, EDITION Hotels, Element by Westin, Fairfield by Marriott, Four Points by Sheraton, Gaylord Hotels, Homes & Villas by Marriott International, JW Marriott Hotels, Le Méridien, Marriott Executive Apartments, Marriott Hotels & Resorts, Marriott Vacation Club, Moxy Hotels, Protea Hotels by Marriott, Renaissance Hotels, Residence Inn by Marriott, Sheraton Hotels and Resorts, SpringHill Suites, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, The Luxury Collection, The Ritz-Carlton, The Ritz-Carlton Reserve*, TownePlace Suites, Tribute Portfolio, W Hotels, and Westin Hotels.
*Does not participate in Marriott Bonvoy
Marriott Bonvoy points expire after 2 years unless you have qualifying activity on your Marriott Bonvoy account. Qualifying activity includes making a paid or reward stay.
Other qualifying activities include purchasing points, holding a meeting or other event at a Marriott-affiliated property, and earning/redeeming points.
Making a purchase on a Marriott Bonvoy credit card will also qualify and keep your points from expiring.
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Christine ran her own business developing and managing insurance and financial services. This stoked a passion for points and miles and she now has over 2 dozen credit cards and creates in-depth, detailed content for UP.
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